These are just as gorgeous in person. They seemed pretty comfy when I put them on HOWEVER they are NOT true to size at all!! I am solid size 9 in every shoe I've ever owned and this 9 felt more like a 10 or 10.5 so I returned them for a smaller size.

I love shoes but hate big, clunky, heavy ones that leave your feet feeling constricted and suffocating. I have been hiking in Merrell barefoots for the last several years and finally got tired of cold, wet feet this time of year. It was time to grow up and buy some big girl shoes. I went to REI several times to try things on in the store and wasn't thrilled with any color/brand option they offered.

I always am a true size 6, but I have a very skinny ankle. These shoes fit me very well with a thick wool sock but are too loose with a smaller sock. (I can still take them off without loosening the laces, but I doubt others will have this problem unless you have ankles the width of razorblades.)

The inaugural hike was in a river gorge area with waterfalls on a rainy weekend. We hiked in puddles, in several inches of runoff, etc, etc. I had agonized over Gore-Tex versus non Gore-Tex, and I was glad I went for it. My feet were so comfortable, and so warm and dry the whole time. THIS MUST BE WHY PEOPLE LOVE GOOD SHOES! I bought these because I wanted more neutral colors instead of the bright color I found at REI. And I am crazy about the quick lace for camping - easy off and on when you are jumping in and out of the tent. Thanks, Backcountry!

I've tried Salmon time and time again hoping for a difference each time but I can't get past the clunkiness of the shoe.

SIZING
I normally wear a size 9 in ALL running/hiking shoes. I leave myself a little room for swelling (I'm between and 8 and 8.5 in flats or dress shoes). I had to get an 8 in these Salomon's and they are still big. I tried them all day, hoping to break them in, but I kept tripping in them. I might be a little on the clumsy side but I've never had an issue with any other hiking shoe. I may just be better suited for a low profile shoe. I want to try the 7.5 but I fear they will be too short. I have narrow, flat feet, so part of the problem is me - I felt like I just couldn't walk safely in them. But it doesn't change the fact that they definitely run LARGE.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Salomon nailed it with style and colors. I love all their shoes every time I look at them, which is why I want them to work so badly! The photos are not deceiving; they are just as awesome in person.

WATERPROOF?
The one time I tried these out for the day, it was raining and my feet stayed dry. I will give them that. Props to making a functional shoe!

LACING
The speed laces are pretty great except that I have such flat and narrow feet, that I have a lot of lace left over if I want them tightened down. Luckily, there's a little pocket on the tongue for the extra, although it got pretty annoying trying to shove all the extra up there every time. I ended up just putting the plastic tab part in there after a while. Seemed to be fine with a little lace hanging out; it didn't drag or anything.

COMFORT
Can't say that I was uncomfortable, but I wasn't a huge fan of my feet sliding around inside the shoe- I kept having to tighten them down. Again, I sized down a whole size and had them fitted. They were the right size and I don't think I could go smaller. Just too big for me.

ALL IN ALL
Amazing shoe - I just can't wear them with narrow and flat flippers.

I have had many Solomon Trail running shoes. Recently, the 8.5 W I wear have seemed too small. But this model in an 8.5 W are perfectl. I have just hike over 50 miles during a week + in Scotland and England without any sore toes or foot problems. They have been water proof when hiking through boggey trails in Scotland.

I just received my hiking shoes this week and already love them. I was debating between these and the Merrell moab ventilators. I ended up ordering these when I tried on the Merrells which are also very comfortable, but allowed my foot to slide forward and causing my toe to hit the front despite sizes or how tight I tied them. My foot fits better in a tennis shoe type hiking shoe rather than a boot style. The Solomons run slightly bigger than the merrell and I could have probably gone with a half size smaller, but with thicker socks it's no problem. I wore them to work to see how long I could stand in them and they were extremely comfortable all day. I can't wait to take them to Colorado. The tread on the bottom is rugged and I'm ready to try them on a 14er! I'll write another review afterwards.